Andaman and Nicobar Islands can be a memorable vacation with the ideal blend of adventure, love, nature, peace, solitude, sand seas, beach, plenty of sunshine, relaxation, sea food, trekking, backpacking, island hopping and coral viewing. The island archipelago is reachable by air or by sea.

In order to have a safe and uneventful experience respecting the potential vagaries of nature, it is always wise to visit Andamans in the winter and summer months and avoid the monsoons. Torrential downpour coupled with swelling seas might spoil your vacation plans rudely. Boats and cruises get cancelled, no chance of water activities and cyclonic destructions would mean stranded in one of the small islands indefinitely at the mercy of nature.

Andamans is gaining popularity at an exponential rate. With the increase in the influx of tourists each year, the government is also doing its bit to strengthen safety and security measures. Trying out any of the water adventure sports is extremely safe. There are adequately trained instructors and coaches present at each venue and strict supervision is bestowed on each who dares to try these sports and activities.

Andamans is a part of India and hence the Indian tourists need no visa to travel to these islands. But there are restrictions in travelling to some of the islands and destinations that are under the protection of Indian Government and trespassing is strictly forbidden.

The roads are safe. The people are friendly and cooperative. The guides and instructors are polite and helpful. Tourism police and appointed life guards posted at the beaches make the stay quite safe. There are adequate sign boards and directions to help travellers. Since the islands thrive mainly on tourism, hence the people and practices are quite tourist friendly.

Some highlights to help make your holidays truly mesmerizing and joyful:

Carry sun protection lotions and ointments. Sun can be quite hot and burning during the summer months.

Eyeshades and hats can come in very handy under the hot sun and dazzling blue sea waters.

Opt for Ac vehicles and AC cruises if traveling in the summer months. Also opt for AC accommodation while staying in any one of the islands.

Carry a photo ID card to avoid legal altercation of any kind.

Always use life jackets while on sea, in any water activity or ride.

Scuba diving and snorkelling ventures are guided by dedicated instructors catering to you constantly.

Professional safety standards are strictly adhered to while in adventure activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, paragliding, sea walking and others.

Crime rate is extremely low as is it nearly impossible for an offender to escape from the remote islands.

A strong force comprising a tri-command of Army, Navy and Air Force is present in the Andamans.

The islands have not been known for any kind of communal violence.

The localites are extremely helpful in case of any emergency and are very respectful towards tourists.

There are adequate health care centres and facilities in case of emergency.

Women and solo wanderers should feel absolutely safe wandering in these islands.

]]>https://www.andamantourism.org/safe-andaman-nicobar-islands-family-travellers/feed/0The Top Rated Water Sports in Andamanhttps://www.andamantourism.org/top-rated-water-sports-andaman/
https://www.andamantourism.org/top-rated-water-sports-andaman/#respondThu, 22 Jun 2017 18:10:50 +0000https://andamantourism.org/?p=531It is quite difficult to choose the top five among so many thrilling adventure water sports in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Among the ones that tops the chart are swimming, speed boat rides, snorkelling, sea cruises, scuba diving, banana boat rides, dolphin watching, parasailing, sea underwater walking, jet skiing, night kayaking and swimming with [...]

]]>It is quite difficult to choose the top five among so many thrilling adventure water sports in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Among the ones that tops the chart are swimming, speed boat rides, snorkelling, sea cruises, scuba diving, banana boat rides, dolphin watching, parasailing, sea underwater walking, jet skiing, night kayaking and swimming with the elephants. Each of these water sports is bound to thrill you and make you fall in love with the blue Andaman seas.

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is another water sport like scuba diving that does not require that you know swimming. Andamans provide excellent snorkelling experience under expert guides. The warm waters of the coral reef and the rich and vibrant underwater world will offer you a unique memory. You can view the rarest of rare corals and the indigo sea clams and molluscs, and the spritely colourful fishes big and small swimming around you. It is a deep sea fantasy world brought alive. The waters around Havelock are clearer and richer in sea flora and fauna compared to North Bay.

Glass bottom boat ride

There would still be some who would be cautious and reluctant to dive into the underwater for a snorkelling, scuba diving or sea walking spree. For those not-so-brave-hearts, the glass bottom boat ride option is an opportunity to watch the deep blue underwater life from the comfort of your seat safely perched in a dry glass bottom boat. The whole family, including kids and elderly people can have a delightful peep at the corals and the marine life underwater. Some of the places offering rides are Water Sports Complex in Port Blair, off the coast of North Bay Coral Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island.

Banana Boat Ride

Riding a Banana Boat in a close group of family or friends can be simply joyous and thrilling. A maximum of six people can perch on a banana boat. As the banana boat is pulled along by a speed boat bobbing up and down tied to it, you clench your teeth and balance your body to retain balance. Life jackets make your fun trip absolutely safe. An over-enthusiastic speed boat driver will always go overboard and swerve a bend precariously to unbalance the banana boat riders and splash you will go into the salty waters. This adds to the thrill. Charges are INR 620 onwards per person, which includes the boat ride, life jacket and instructor presence.

Parasailing

Parasailing gives you the ultimate thrill of flying high up into the air over the blue blue seas and the feeling the rush of winds against you as you parasail in a parachute harnessed to a speedboat blowing you past the waters. You would be blown around like a kite and it is extremely thrilling to experience the air and sea together with the speed.

Dolphin Watch

Dolphin watch is fascinating as you keep on scouring the quite blue seas waters for a sudden ecstatic moment when a dolphin with rush up and reach the surface to breathe and then vanish into the waters. The two most famous dolphin watching sites of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the Long Island and Jolly Buoy Island.

]]>https://www.andamantourism.org/top-rated-water-sports-andaman/feed/0Top 5 things to do in Andaman for travellershttps://www.andamantourism.org/top-5-things-andaman/
https://www.andamantourism.org/top-5-things-andaman/#respondThu, 22 Jun 2017 18:09:13 +0000https://andamantourism.org/?p=529Scuba Diving in Havelock Island Love water and don’t know how to swim. Want to experience how the water feels like with beautiful teeming millions of sea creatures swimming beside you. Take a scuba diving session in one of the most beautiful coral reefs of the world along the Havelock Island. You need not know [...]

Love water and don’t know how to swim. Want to experience how the water feels like with beautiful teeming millions of sea creatures swimming beside you. Take a scuba diving session in one of the most beautiful coral reefs of the world along the Havelock Island. You need not know swimming for scuba diving. There will be a brief training session by the diving instructor before the actual dive and he/she will then accompany and escort you throughout the dive. No fear of drowning while you are underwater. Glide along happily discovering the enchantment of deep blue seas.

Travelling in a sea plane in Pot Blair

If you are willing to shell out some extra bucks for an unforgettable memory while in vacation in the Andamans, here’s to you. You can experience the once-in-lifetime ride in a cool seaplane run by Pawan Hans. Travel the distance from Port Blair and Havelock in your onward or return journey in this sleek plane and experience the thrill for 15 minutes. At a time, the seaplane can carry nine passengers. Ferries usually take 2 hours to cover the same distance by water. One-way expense is INR 2,000 per person.

Watching Bioluminescence in Havelock Island

Imagine the deep blue darkness of the infinite seas. Imagine the mellowed darkness of a New Moon night settling down. And then imagine amidst all the darkness a million twinkling stars emanating from the waters beneath you. Experience this unearthly feel of sheer thrill mixed with enigmatic beauty in the waters along the Havelock beaches. The phytoplankton when disturbed by the oars of your kayaking boats rage up like a million fireflies overwhelming you. A very few expert kayaking instructors arrange for night trips on New Moon nights in small groups. One such expert is Tanaz. She is famous in the Island and the localites will easily connect you to her.

Witnessing the light and sound Show in Cellular Jail in Port Blair

The light and sound show regularly held in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair is not to be missed when in Andamans for vacation. The Cellular Jail was used by the Britishers to imprison the colonial prisoners, the freedom struggle brave hearts of India. The Light and Sound Show is a wondrous remembrance of the era of struggle, battle for freedom, fighting for rights and inhuman torture meted out to the freedom fighters. The old Peepal Tree’s narration in the deep resonant voice of veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri transport you to the ancient days of cruelty, bravery and torture.

Watching the bustling parrots of the Parrot Island

Every day at sunset thousands of parrots dot the sky and the lands of Baratang Island as they return to their nesting holes. The boat trip combining a gorgeous sunset, the submerged stoic mangroves, a beautiful sea-fringed Baratang Island and thousands of noisy parrots make your visit worthwhile. While you would be perched on a floating boat near the island, you would see the amazing site of so many parrots gathered in one single piece of remote island far away in the heart of the oceans. The very magic of the phenomenon provides you the charm and the thrill.